Married to the Empire

Monday, October 18, 2010

Owl of Wisdom

Today is a Big Deal.  It's my oldest niece's 13th birthday.  She's now a teenager.  As I work with teens, I'm acutely aware of the dangers and temptations she will be facing now and later.  It's tough to be a teenager these days. 

I sent her a regular present, of course, but I also included a letter to her with advice for navigating the teen years as a Christian.  I also made what I'm calling an Owl of Wisdom to be a visual reminder to make wise choices in her life. 

Owls are everywhere these days, including all my craft magazines.  But I opted to create my own pattern. I just drew it out on a piece of paper, then pinned it to some felt, and cut it out.  



Next, I cut out a piece of coordinating fabric and wrote a bible verse about wisdom on it.  I used Daniel 12:3, as I think it gives a nice positive spin to making wise choices.  I ran the fabric through my Xyron to add adhesive to the back, then I stuck it on the back of the owl cutout.




I made eyes and a mask of sorts for the owl and used fabric glue to attach those.  (The felt was too fat to go through the Xyron.  If I'd had more time, I might have sewn them on.)  I turned the right sides facing each other, with a ribbon at the top for hanging, then sewed it up.  I left a space at the bottom for turning it right-side out and for stuffing it full of batting.




I sewed up the bottom by hand to close it off.  Done! 



It's a little lopsided, but hopefully she won't mind that.  In retrospect, I think I'd just sew it up with right sides facing out, as I think it would have retained a nicer shape.  It wound up being a little small and lumpy by doing it right sides together, then turning it out.  But I still think it turned out cute.  At the very least, it's a reminder to my precious niece that her aunt loves her and wants the best for her.

4 comments:

Beth said...

That's so cute! My sister made a felt Pikmin (video game critter) for my youngest and he treasures it.

Rhonda said...

very nice gift idea. Happy bday to your niece.

Ms. Oomph said...

Oh my goodness, he is soooo cute! I have an owl fetish!!

Anonymous said...

That is really cool!